Japan s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has told the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) that if 5 per cent of imported honey exceeds its glyphosate limit, it will stop the honey coming into Japan. MPI food risk assessment manager at New Zealand Food Safety, Andrew Pearson, said as a response, glyphosate testing would be required before any New Zealand honey was exported to Japan. Testing must be carried out in a laboratory approved to test for glyphosate in accordance with MPI s requirements, Pearson said. If test results are not provided, MPI will not grant export certification for that consignment of honey.
The Ministry for Primary Industries is still investigating the source of listeria cases in the top of the South Island following the recent recalls of some ham products from Pestells on Wednesday and sliced meats from Pak ‘n Save Blenheim in November. It confirmed Nelson Marlborough Public Health Service received four notifications of cases of listeriosis in the past 12 months; with one last December and the others in August, September and November this year. Two historic cases, in 2016 and 2018, were also recorded.
Derek Flynn/Stuff
Pestells and Pak ‘n Save Blenheim have been directed by MPI to stop the sale of certain products to ensure there was no ongoing risk to customers.